Tv recliner



1966 E. HAMPTON 3,282,626

TV RECLINER Filed Nov. 25, 1964 INVENTOR. EDWARD L.HAMPTON BY abh UnitedStates Patent 3,282,626 TV RECLINER Edward L. Hampton, Louisville, Ky,assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Metal Products Company,Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 25, 1964, Ser. No413,694

12 Claims. (Cl. 297-89) This application is a continuation-in-part of myapplication Ser. No. 30,876 filed May 23, 1960', now abandoned.

The present invention relates to reclining chairs of the multiactiontype and, more particularly, to TV recliners.

Many recliners have a seat (and backrest) structure mounted on a basestructure for reclining movement from an upright position to a fullyreclined position and a legrest structure mounted either on the seat oron the base (or on both) for extension movement coordinated with saidreclining movement. This 2-position recliner is well suited for use inwatching television when it is in its extreme upright position but notwhen it is in its reclined position.

To increase its usability for television watching and like purposes, ithas been proposed (1) to mount the seat structure on the base structurefor movement from an upright or 1st position to an intermediate-reclinedor 2nd position during a 1st motion phase and from said 2nd position toa fully reclined or 3rd position during a 2nd motion phase, (2) toextend the legrest relative to the seat during the 1st motion phase sothat the legrest is fully extended when the seat is in its 2nd position,and (3) to move the seat and extended legrest bodily as one fixed unitduring the 2nd motion phase when the seat moves to its 3rd position.This type of chair has been on the US. market since about 1960 and iscommonly referred to in the trade as a TV recliner.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a 3-positionTV recliner of improved design and, more particularly, to improve thedesign of a 3-position TV recliner by providing it with a legrest whichis fully extended during the 1st motion phase to assume a horizontalattitude and which maintains that attitude during the 2nd motion phase.

A conventional form of a 3-position TV recliner comprises:

(A) A base frame, a seat, a legrest and a linkage of the lazytong typehaving two seat links mounting the legrest on the front end portion ofthe seat for extension retraction and angular movement relative thereto,(1) each lazytong seat link normally depending from its upper end pivoton the seat;

(B) Means mounting the seat on the base frame for a 1st phase movementfrom a normal upright or 1st position rearwardly to a semireclined or2nd position and for a 2nd phase movement from said 2nd position to afully-reclined or 3rd position during which the front end portion of theseat moves upwardly; and

(C) Legrest extension means, responsive to the rearward 1st phasemovement of said seat relative to said base frame, for swinging saidlazytong seat links forwardly about their upper end pivots to extend thelazytong linkage and contemporaneously turn the extending legrestangnlarly in one direction relative to the seat with the fully extendedlegrest assuming a more or less horizontal position. In the conventionalchair, the legrest, its mounting linkage and the front end portion ofthe seat all move upwardly as a single fixed unit in response to the 2ndphase movement of the seat structure from its 2nd to its 3rd position.

In carrying out my invention, I provide legrest retrac- 'ice swingingsaid lazytong seat links rearwardly about their upper end pivots so asto effect a partial retraction of the lazytong linkage andcorrespondingly turn the retracting legrest angularly in the oppositedirection relative to the seat and more or less to the extent requiredto maintain the legrest in said horizontal attitude.

A TV recliner, constructed in accordance with my invention, isillustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the chair hardware parts in positionscorresponding to the extreme upright position of the recliner, the chairparts being shown more or less in fragmentary form by dotted lines andthe hardware parts in whole form by solid lines;

FIG. 2 is a similar side elevation with the chair and hardware parts inpositions corresponding to the intermediate upright position of therecliner; and

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevation with the chair and hardware parts inpositions corresponding to the fully reclined position of the recliner.

Conventional structure The chair indicated in the drawing conventionallyincludes: a base frame structure 1; a seat 2; a backrest 3; a legrest 4;1st and 2nd base pivots 5 and 6; and 1st, 2nd and 3rd seat pivots 7, 8and 9. This chair is a two action chair with its seat and backrestrigidly joined together as an integral body-supporting structure toprovide one action part and with an extensible-retractable legrestproviding the other action part. The present invention may beincorporated in a three action chair wherein a seat unit (having a seatmember) and a backrest are joined together for relative movement as anarticulated body-supporting structure.

The metal hardware of the illustrated chair conventionally includes: (a)a horizontally elongate base bracket member 11 adapted to be mountedrigidly on the base frame 1, said bracket member 11 having said 1st basepivot 5 at its rear end and said 2nd base pivot 6 at any suitablelocation, such as the location shown wherein base pivot 6 is spacedforwardly from 1st base pivot 5; (b) a horizontally elongate seatbracket member 12 upon which the seat frame 2 is adapted to be mountedrigidly, this seat member 12 extending slightly above and more or lessparallel to the base member 11 in both upright positions of the chairand having said 1st seat pivot 7 at its rear end and saidhorizontally-spaced 2nd and 3 rd seat pivots 8 and 9 at its front end;(c) a suitable legrest bracket member 14, upon which the legrest 4 isadapted to be mounted rigidly; and (d) a normally contracted lazytonglinkage of the double V type mounting the legrest bracket member 14 onthe front end portion of the seat bracket member 12 through said 2nd and3rd seat pivots 8 and 9 for extension and retraction between arearwardly retracted position and a forwardly extended relativelyelevated position.

Preferably the double V lazytong linkage is of the conventionaloverlapped V type having front and rear seat links 15 and 17 and upperand lower legrest links 16 and 18, these links being arranged so thatthe upper legrest link 16 and the rear seat link 17 form one V while thefront seat link 15 and the lower legrest link 18 form the other V withthe front seat link 15 of the first V crossing the upper legrest link 16of the second V and being pivoted thereto at the intersection point. Asthe angle which link 17 forms with bracket 12 determines the relativeposition of legrest 4 with respect to seat 2, and the relative positionsof links 15, 16 and 18 with respect to each other and to seat 2, link 17may be appropriately termed a legrest linkage control link. Links 15, 16and 18 can be considered as a legrest linkage means controlled by link17. When link 17 turns clockwise, the chair V U moving from its uprightto its intermediate-reclined position, legrest 4 moves out and away fromthe seat and the angle of legrest 4 and seat 2 increases fromapproximately 90 as shown in FIG. 1 to approximately 180 as shown inFIG. 2. Then as link 17 pa tially retraces its first path, the chairmoving from its intermediatereclined to its fully-reclined position,both legrest 4s angle formed with seat 2 and the distance between seat 2and legrest 4 decrease.

Double V linkages. of the conventional parallel V types may be used inplace of the overlapped V type illustrated. In the parallel V type, thefront seat and upper legrest links 15, 16 form an upper V while the rearseat and lower legrest links 17, 18 form a lower V but in one case thefront seat link 15 is downwardly extended to intersect with and bepivotally connected to the lower legrest link 18 while in the other casethe upper legrest link 16 is rearwardly extended to intersect with andbe pivotally connected to the rear seat link 17.

It will be observed that both seat links 15, 17 are conventionallypivoted to the seat bracket member 12 at 2nd and 3rd seat pivots 8 and 9and that both legrest links 16, 13 are conventionally pivoted to thelegrest bracket 14.

The mounting means for the seat-backrest unit comprises: a rearbase-seat link pivotally interconnecting the rear ends of the base andseat brackets; and an elbow linkage pivotally interconnecting themidportion of the base bracket with the front end portion of the seatbracket.

In the first (or FIG. 1) position of the chair, the rear base-seat link21 extends from the rear end of the base bracket 11 more or lessvertically upward to the rear end of the seat bracket 12. This link 21is pivoted at its lower end to the base bracket 11 through the firstbase pivot and at its upper end to the seat bracket 12 through the firstseat pivot 7.

The elbow linkage includes: a base guide link 24; and a front seatsupport link 27. The rear end of the base guide link 24 is pivotallyconnected to the midportion of the base bracket 11 through said 2nd basepivot 6. From a conventional seat-mounting standpoint, the elbow linkagemay be mounted and operated completely independent of said legrestlinkage in which event the second base pivot 6 may be suitably locatedas shown or to coincide with the first base pivot 5, or otherwise whilethe front seat link 27 may be entirely disconnected from seat supportlink 17 and independently pivoted at 9 or elsewhere on the front endportion of the seat as desired. As link 24 and the position of pivotpoint 9 control the angle of link 17 with bracket 12, link 24 may alsoappropriately be termed the control link for the legrest linkage controllink 17.

In the first position of the chair, when constructed as illustrated,link 24 extends more or less horizontally forward from its base pivot 6with its front end portion terminating in the general vicinity of thefront end of the base bracket and resting on the base 1, or, moreparticularly, resting on a stop pin 30 which is fixedly mounted on thebase 1. The front seat support link 27 of the elbow linkage depends, inthe 1st position of the chair, more or less vertically from said 3rdseat pivot 9, on the front end portion of the seat bracket 12,downwardly to the front end portion of the base guide link 24 to whichits lower end is pivotally connected through said elbow pivot 28.

An occupant of the chair may move the seat-backrest unit horizontallyrearward from its 1st (FIG. 1) position to its 2nd (FIG. 2) positionsimply by urging the seatbackrest unit horizontally rearward. Duringthis 1st phase movement, the upper end of the rear base-seat link 21swings about the 1st base pivot 5 at the lower end of link 21 while thepivot 9 and the upper end of the front seat support link 27 of the elbowlinkage swing rearwardly about the elbow pivot 28 at the lower end oflink 27.

When the seat-backrest unit occupies its 2nd position,

i it may be easily and quickly reclined simply by rotating it and therear base-seat link 21 as a unit rearwardly, about the 1st base pivot 5at the lower end of link 21, to its 3rd (Pig. 3) position. During this2nd phase movement, the base guide link 24 of the elbow linkage swingsupwardly and rearwardly about its base pivot 6.

The extent of the 1st phase forward and rearward movements of theseat-backrest structure may be suitably limited in any suitable way. Inthe construction shown, the forward movement is restricted (and the baseguide link 24 of the elbow linkage together with the front end portionof the seat are prevented from dropping below their respective FIG. 1positions) by stop pin 30, which engages the underside of the base guidelink 24. In addidition, an arm 31 is rigidly mounted on the rear seatlink 17 (of the double V linkage) in position to engage the underside ofthe stop pin 39 when the chair is in its 1st position. The rearwardmovement of the seat-backrest unit beyond the 2nd position is restrictedby means of a stop pin 32 mounted on the rear end portion of the seatbracket 12 in position to swing downwardly and strike the upper side ofthe rear base-seat link 21 when that link reaches its 2nd position.

The extreme rearward rocking movement of the chair may be limited to the3rd position in any suitable manner as by means of a stop pin 34 mountedonthe base bracket 11 in position to engage the base guide link 24 whenit reaches its 3rd position. In the embodiment shown, this isaccomplished by extending the base link 24 rearwardly beyond the 2ndbase pivot 6 and positioning the stop pin 34 to engage the underside ofthat rearward extension at the FIG. 3 position.

During the 1st motion phase, the rearward and forward movement of theseat-backrest unit (relative to the base) are used to extend and retractthe legrest. This may be done by holding the midportion of a double Vseat link pivotally against rearward and forward movement with the seatso as to permit that link to rock about said midportion pivotcoordinately with the rearward and forward movement of the seat. Forexample, the midportion of double V seat link 17 may be held pivotallyat a point corresponding to the elbow pivot 28. When so held, it will berocked during the 1st motion phase by the rearwardly moving seat andthus actuated to extend the double V linkage and the legrest carried byit.

Inventive structure During the second motion phase, the fully extendeddouble V linkage moves upwardly with the front end of the seat and, inaccordance with my invention, is slightly retracted.

Broadly speaking, this may be accomplished by pivoting the rear end of ahorizontal arm to the base and operatively interconnecting its front enddirectly or indirectly with the double V linkage in a manner such as tocause the midportion of a double V seat link to move rearwardly relativeto the seat pivot of that link as both points move upwardly. Forexample, if the midportion of the double V seat link 17 is heldpivotally at a point corresponding to the elbow pivot 28 and if, duringthe 2nd motion phase, that upwardly-moving pivot point 28 is guided in amanner maintaining a fixed space relationship with seat pivot 9, so thatthere is no relative movement between them, then there will be noretraction (or further extension) of the legrest and the legrestsupporting linkage during the 2nd motion phase.

On the other hand, if, during the 2nd motion phase, that upwardly movingpivot point 28 is moved relatively to seat pivot 9, but in a directionopposite to the direction of their relative movement during legrestextension, then the legrest will be retracted and at the same timeturned angularly in a direction opposite to the direction in which itturned during legrest extension. If the magnitude of this relative 2ndphase retraction movement between pivot point 28 and seat pivot 9 issubstantially smaller than their relative 1st phase extension movement,the

magnitude of the legrest retraction will be correspondingly smaller thanthe magnitude of the legrest extension;

hence the fully extended legrest will only be partially retracted duringthe 2nd motion phase.

More specifically, my invention can be very simply and effectivelycarried out through said seat-supporting elbow linkage (24, 27) by doingthe following: (1) integrating the vertical link 27 of the elbow linkagewith seat link 17 of the double V linkage so that elbow pivot 28 becomesa midportion pivot of seat link 17 (or its equivalent); and (2) locatingthe rear end base pivot 6 of the horizontal arm 24 in forwardly spacedrelationship to the first base pivot 5 so that pivot 28 is guided alonga path D, which, as it proceeds upwardly, diverges rearwardly from thepath C which that same pivot point would take if it moved circularlyabout the first base pivot 5. When pivot point 28 follows the rearwardlydiverging path D it will move rearwardly relative to seat pivot 9 over adistance corresponding to the horizontal spacing between paths C and D.In so moving, link 17 is correspondingly, hence partially, retractedrearwardly as it moves upwardly during the 2nd motion phase.

It should now be clear: that one elbow linkage 24, 27, which iscompletely independent of the legrest linkage, may be provided tosupport the front end of the seat for horizontal movement during the 1stmotion phase and to accommodate its upward movement during the 2ndmotion phase; and that a separate and independent elbow linkage having ahorizontal arm 24 pivoted at 6 and a vertical link 27 integrated with aseat link of the double V may be provided for extending the legrestduring the .lst motion phase and partially retracting it during thesecond motion phase. With respect to a separate and independent elbowlinkage, it should also be clear: that vertical link 27 is spaced fromthe legrest 4, has its upper end pivoted .at 9 to a portion of the seat2 which moves upwardly during the second phase movement and isoperatively connected to the legrest linkage 15-18 to retract thatlinkage when it (vertical link 27) is swung one way about its upper endpivot 9; and that horizontal arm 24 has its rear end pivoted at 6 to thebase and its front end operatively connected to the vertical link 27 tomove upwardly contemporaneously with that link during the second motionphase and cause that upwardly moving link 27 to swing about its upperend pivot in the legrest retraction direction. In connection with theforegoing, it will be noted that there is relative motion between theelbow pivot 28 and the seat pivot 9 in one horizontal direction duringthe 1st motion phase and in the opposite horizontal direction during the2nd motion phase. For example, in the 1st motion phase, the elbow pivot28 remains stationary while the seat pivot 9 moves bodily rearward. Inthe 2nd motion phase, both pivots move upwardly and rearwardly but therearward movement of the elbow pivot 28 is larger than the rearwardmovement of the seat pivot 9; hence, the difference between theserearward movements is a measure of the relative movement of one pivot tothe other.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A multiple position reclining chair comprising:

(A) abase frame;

(B) a body-supporting member including a unitary seat and backrestattached to said base frame for a first rearwardly horizontaltranslational movement and a second rotational movement, during whichthe front end portion of said seat moves rearwardly upward;

(C) a legrest normally vertically disposed with its upper end portionadjacent the forward end portion of said seat;

(D) a legrest supporting linkage including (1) a first seat linkpivotally connected at one end to a forward portion of said seat at afront seat pivot,

(2) a first legrest link pivotally connected at one end to a lowerportion of said legrest and at its other end to the other end of saidfirst seat link,

(3) a second seat link pivotally connected at one end to a forwardportion of said seat at a second seat pivot spaced rearwardly from saidfront seat pivot, and

(4) a second legrest link pivotally connected at one end to the upperportion of said legrest, at its other end to the other end of saidsecond seat link, and, between ends, to an intermediate portion of saidfirst seat link;

(E) means, responsive to the rearward movement of said seat relative tosaid base frame, for extending the legrest and contemporaneously turningit angularly in one direction relative to the seat and the linkage, saidmeans including (1) a stationary member on the base frame stationarilyholding a lower seat link portion of said linkage against rearwardmovement with the seat While the upper seat link portion thereof movesrearwardly with said seat; and

(F) means, responsive to the movement of an upwardly moving portion ofsaid seat relative to said base frame, for partially retracting thelegrest and correspondingly turning the legrest angularly in theopposite direction relative to the seat and the linkage, said meansincluding (1) avertical link (a) spaced from said legrest,

(b) having its upper end pivoted to a portion of the seat which movesupwardly during said second rotational movement, and

(c) being operatively connected to said linkage to retract the linkagewhen said vertical link is swung one way about its upper end pivot, and

(2) a horizontal arm having (a) its rear end pivoted to said base frame,

and

(b) its front end operatively connected to said vertical link to moveupwardly contemporaneously therewith and contemporaneously swing saidupwardly moving vertical link said one way about its upper end pivot.

2. A reclining chair of the type wherein the seat is mounted on a framefor a 1st phase movement from a 1st normal upright position rearwardlyto a 2nd semi-reclined position and for a 2nd phase movement from said2nd position to a 3rd fully-reclined position during which the front endportion of the seat moves upwardly, comprismg:

(A) a base frame having a 1st base pivot at its rear end and a 2nd basepivot spaced forwardly therefrom;

(B) a seat having a 1st seat pivot at its rear end andhorizontally-spaced 2nd and 3rd seat pivots at its front end;

(C) a legrest normally arranged vertically adjacent the front end of theseat wherein it presents an upper and lower pair of pivots;

(D) a lazytong linkage of the double V type having, at one end, a pairof seat links pivoted to said 2nd and 3rd seat pivots and, at itsopposite end, a pair of legrest links pivoted to said upper and lowerlegrest pivots,

(1) said linkage mounting the legrest on the seat forextension-retraction and angular movements relative theretof;

(E) means mounting the seat on the base frame for said 1st and 2ndmovements, said means including (1) a rear seat-supporting linkvertically arranged at the rear end of the seat with its upper and lowerends pivoted to said 1st seat and 1st base pivots, and

(2) a front seat-supporting elbow linkage includ- (a) a front verticallink, having its upper end pivoted to said 2nd seat pivot, and (b) ahorizontal arm having its rear end pivoted to said 2nd base pivot, itsfront end pivoted to the lower end of said front vertical link and itsfront end portion resting on the frame during said 1st seat movement andswinging upwardly about said 2nd base pivot during said 2nd movement;and

(F) extension-retraction means including (1) means integrating saidfront vertical link on said 2nd seat pivot with said seat link on said2nd seat pivot for movement as a unit thereabout so that (a) during said1st movement, the stationary front end of said horizontal arm holds thelower end of said front vertical link stationary while permitting theupper end thereof to move rearwardly and thereby extend said lazytonglinkage and (b) during said 2nd movement, said horizontal arm swings thelower end of said vertical link rearwardly relative to the upper endthereof as both move upwardly with the seat and thereby correspondinglyretracts said lazytong linkage.

3. A reclining chair responsive to the movement of the individualsitting in said chair having an upright, an intermediate-reclined T.V.position, and a fully reclined position comprising:

(A) a base frame,

(B) a body supporting member including a seat,

(C) means responsive to the movement of the individual sitting in saidchair for guiding said seat substantially rearward with respect to saidbase to said intermediate-reclined position, and for guiding said seatthrough a substantially rotary movement with respect to said base fromsaid intermediate-reclined position to said fully-reclined position,

(D) a legrest normally disposed with one end lower than the other, itsupper end portion being adjacent to the forward portion of said seat andforming an angle therewith,

(E) legrest supporting linkage including:

(1) a legrest control link pivoted at one end forwardly on said seat,

(2) means for operably coupling said legrest to said legrest controllink for increasing the distance of said legrest from said seat andsimultaneously increasing said angle toward 180 by means of the rotarymovement of said legrest control link in a first direction about saidseat,

(F) means mounted on said base frame for rotating said legrest controllink in said first direction in response to said substantially rearwardmotion of said seat with respect to said base frame, said movement ofsaid legrest control link defining a first rotation, and for partiallyretracting said first rotation of said legrest control link in responseto said substantially rotational movement of said seat with respect tosaid base frame from said intermediate-reclined to said fully-reclinedpositions, said retracting movement defining a second rotation, whereinsaid legrest is fully extended from said seat and forms a large obliqueangle therewith in said semireclined position and wherein said legrestis partially retracted toward said seat in said fully-reclined positionand forms a somewhat smaller oblique angle therewith.

4. The reclining chair as defined in claim 3 wherein said means foroperably coupling said legrest to said legrest control link includes:

(l) a seat link pivoted at one end to said seat at a point spacedforwardly from said legrest control link,

(2) a first legrest link pivoted at one end to a lower portion of saidlegrest and at its other end to the other end of said first seat link,

(3) a second legrest link pivoted at one end to the upper portion ofsaid legrest and at its other end to the other end of said legrestcontrol link, and, between the ends to an intermediate portion of saidfirst seat link.

5. The reclining chair defined in claim 3 wherein said means mounted onsaid base for rotating said legrest control link includes a control linkfor the legrest control link pivoted at one end to said base and at itsother end to said legrest control link at a point spaced forward fromthe pivotal connection of said base and said linkage control link whensaid seat is in said upright position.

6. The reclining chair defined in claim 4 wherein said means mounted onsaid base for rotating said legrest control link includes a control linkfor the legrest control link pivoted at one end to said base and at itsother end to said legrest control link at a point spaced forward fromthe pivotal connection of said base and said linkage control link whensaid seat is in said upright position.

7. A reclining chair responsive to the movement of the individualsitting in said chair having an upright, an intermediate-reclined T.V.position, and a fully-reclined position comprising:

(A) a base frame having front and rear base pivot points,

(B) a body supporting member including a seat having front and rear seatpivots,

(C) seat support linkage including:

(1) a rear support link pivoted at one end at said rear base pivot andat its other end at said rear seat pivot,

(2) front support linkage having:

(a) a first front support link pivoted at one end at said front seatpivot, and

(b) a second front support link for controlling said first front supportlink pivoted at one end at said front base pivot point to said base andat its other end to the other end of said first front support link at apoint spaced substantially forwardly from said front base pivot pointwhen said seat is in said upright position,

(D) means for defining a rearward limit to the rotation of said rearsupport link about said rear base pivot when said seat moves from saidupright to said intermediate-reclined position with respect to saidbase,

(E) means for limiting said rotation of said seat about said rear seatpivot when said seat rotates from said intermediate-reclined to saidfully-reclined position with respect to said base.

(F) a legrest normally disposed with one end lower than the other, itsupper end portion being adjacent to the forward portion of said seat andforming an angle therewith,

(G) means including a link member rigidly connected to said first frontsupport link for forming with said first front support link a legrestcontrol link,

(H) means for operably coupling said legrest to said legrest controllink for increasing the distance of said legrest from said seat andsimultaneously increasing said angle toward by means of the rotarymovement of said legrest control link in a first direction about saidseat.

8. The chair defined by claim 7 wherein said means operably couplingsaid legrest includes:

(1) a seat link pivoted at one end to said seat at a point spacedforwardly from said legrest control link,

(2) a first legrest link pivoted at one end to a lower portion of saidlegrest and at its other end to the other end of said first seat link,

(3) a second legrest link pivoted at one end to the upper portion ofsaid legrest and at its other end to the other end of said legrestcontrol link, and, between the ends to an intermediate portion of saidfirst seat link.

9. A mechanism adapted for a multiple position reclining chaircomprising:

(A) a base frame member;

(B) a seat frame member adapted for a first rearwardly horizontaltranslational movement and a second rotational movement, during whichthe front end portion of said seat frame member moves rearwardly upward;

(C) a legrest support member normally vertically dis posed with itsupper end portion adjacent the forward end portion of said seat member;

(D) a legrest supporting linkage including (1) a first seat linkpivotally connected at one end to a forward portion of said seat memberat a front seat pivot,

(2) a first legrest link pivotally connected at one end to a lowerportion of said legrest member and at its other end to the other end ofsaid first seat link,

(3) a second seat link pivotally connected at one end to a forwardportion of said seat member at a second seat pivot spaced reanwardlyfrom said front seat member pivot, and

(4) a second legrest link pivotally connected at one end to the upperportion of said legrest member, at its other end to the other end ofsaid second seat link, and, between ends to an intermediate portion ofsaid first seat link;

(E) means, responsive to the rearward movement of said seat memberrelative to said base frame member, for extending the legrest member andcontemporaneously turning it angularly in one direction relative to theseat member and the linkage, said means including:

(1) a stationary member on the base frame member stationarily holding alower seat link portion of said linkage against rearward movement withthe seat member while the upper seat link portion thereof movesrearwardly with said seat member and (F) means, responsive to themovement of an upwardly moving portion of said seat member relative tosaid base frame member, for partially retracting the legrest member andcorrespondingly turning the legrest member angularly in the oppositedirection relative to the seat member and the linkage, said meansincluding (1) a vertical link (a) spaced from said legrest member,

(b) having its upper end pivoted to a portion of the seat member whichmoves upwardly during said second rotational movement, and

(c) being operatively connected to said linkage to retract the linkagewhen said vertical link is swung one way about its upper end pivot, and

(2) a horizontal arm having (a) its rear end pivoted to said base frame,

and

(b) its front end operatively connected to said vertical link to moveupwardly contemporaneously therewith and contemporaneously swing saidupwardly moving vertical link said one way about its upper end pivot.

10. A mechanism for a reclining chair responsive to the movement of theindividual sitting in said chair hav- 19 ing an upright, an intermediatereclined T.V. position, and a fully reclined position comprising:

(A) a base frame member,

(B) a seat frame member,

(C) means responsive to the movement of the individual sitting in saidchair for guiding said seat member substantially rearward with respectto said base member to said intermediate-reclined position, and forguiding said seat member through a substantially rotary movement withrespect to said base member from said intermediate-reclined position tosaid fully-reclined position,

(D) a legrest frame member normally disposed with one end lower than theother, and being positioned forwardly of said seat member and forming anangle therewith,

(E) legrest member supporting linkage including:

(1) a legrest control link pivoted at one end forwardly on said seat,

(2) means for operably coupling said legrest member to said legrestcontrol link for increasing the distance of said legrest member fromsaid seat member and simultaneously increasing said angle by means ofthe rotary movement of said legrest control link in a first directionabout said seat member,

(F) means mounted on said base frame for rotating said legrest controllink in said first direction in response to said substantially rearwardmotion of said seat member with respect to said base member, saidmovement of said legrest control link defining a first rotation, and forpartially retracting said first rotation of said legrest control link inresponse to said substantially rotational movement of said seat memberwith respect to said base member from said intermediate-reclined to saidfully-reclined positions, said retracting movement defining a secondrotation, wherein said legrest member is fully extended from said seatmember and forms a large oblique angle therewith in said semi-reclinedposition and wherein said legrest member is partially retracted towardsaid seat member in said fully-reclined position and forms a somewhatsmaller oblique angle therewith.

11. A mechanism for a reclining chair responsive to the movement of theindividual sitting in said chair having an upright, anintermediate-reclined T.V. position, and a fully reclined positioncomprising:

(A) a base frame member having front and rear base pivot points,

(B) a seat frame member having front and rear seat member pivots,

(C) seat member support linkage including:

(1) a rear support link pivoted at one end at said rear base pivot andat its other end at said rear seat member pivot,

(2) front support linkage having:

(a) a first front support link pivoted at one end at said front seatpivot, and

(b) a second front support link for controlling said first front supportlink pivoted at one end at said front base pivot point to said base andat its other end to the other end of said first front support link at apoint spaced substantially forwardly from said front base pivot pointwhen said seat member is in said upright position,

(D) means for defining a rearward limit to the rotation of said rearsupport link about said rear base pivot when said seat member moves fromsaid upright to said intermediate-reclined position with respect to saidbase member,

(E) means for limiting said rotation of said seat member about said rearseat pivot when said seat rotates from said intermediate-reclined tosaid fully-reclined position with respect to said base member,

(F) a legrest support frame member normally disposed With one end lowerthan the other, and being positioned forwardly of said seat member andforming an angle therewith,

(G) means-including a link member rigidly connected to said first frontsupport link for forming with said first front support link a legrestcontrol link,

(H) means for operably coupling said legrest member to said legrestcontrol link for increasing the dis tance of said legrest member fromsaid seat and simultaneously increasing said angle toward 180 by meansof the rotary movement of said legrest control link in a first directionabout said seat.

12. The mechanism defined by claim 11 wherein said means operablycoupling said legrest member includes:

(1) a seat link pivoted at one end to said seat at a point spacedforwardly from said legrest control link,

(2) a first legrest link pivoted at one end to a lower portion of saidlegrest and at its other end to the other end of said first seat link,

(3) a second legrest link pivoted at one end to the upper portion ofsaid legrest and at its other end to the other end of said legrestcontrol link, and, between the ends to an intermediate portion of said 5first seat link.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Schliephacke29785 Bank et al. 29789 Fletcher 29789 Bank et al 29788 Schliephacke29789 Schliephacke 29788 Schliephacke 29788 Fletcher 29789 FRANK B.SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

20 JAMES T. MCCALL, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,282,626 November 1, 1966 Edward L. Hampton It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 7, line 62, for "retracting" read retracing line 66, for"retracting" read retracing column 10, line 4, after "angle" inserttoward line 37, for "retracting" read retracing Signed and sealed this5th day of September 1967" (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

11. A MECHANISM FOR A RECLINING CHAIR RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THEINDIVIDUAL SITTING IN SAID CHAIR HAVING AN UPRIGHT, ANINTERMEDIATE-RECLINED T.V. POSITION, AND A FULLY RECLINED POSITIONCOMPRISING: (A) A BASE FRAME MEMBER HAVING FRONT AND REAR BASE PIVOTPOINTS, (B) A SEAT FRAME MEMBER HAVING FRONT AND REAR SEAT MEMBERPIVOTS, (C) SEAT MEMBER SUPPORT LINKAGE INCLUDING: (1) A REAR SUPPORTLINK PIVOTED AT ONE END AT SAID REAR BASE PIVOT AND AT ITS OTHER END ATSAID REAR SEAT MEMBER PIVOT, (2) FRONT SUPPORT LINKAGE HAVING: (A) AFIRST FRONT SUPPORT LINK PIVOTED AT ONE END AT SAID FRONT SEAT PIVOT,AND (B) A SECOND FRONT SUPPORTED LINK FOR CONTROLLING SAID FIRST FRONTSUPPORT LINK PIVOTED AT ONE END AT SAID FRONT BASE PIVOT POINT TO SAIDBASE AND ITS OTHER END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FIRST FRONT SUPPORT LINKAT A POINT SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY FORWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT BASE PIVOTPOINT WHEN SAID SEAT MEMBER IS IN SAID UPRIGHT POSITION, (D) MEANS FORDEFINING A REARWARD LIMIT TO THE ROTATION OF SAID REAR SUPPORT LINKABOUT SAID REAR BASE PIVOT WHEN SAID SEAT MEMBER MOVES FROM SAID UPRIGHTTO SAID INTERMEDIATE-RECLINED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE MEMBER,(E) MEANS FOR LIMTING SAID ROTATION OF SAID SEAT MEMBER ABOUT SAID REARSEAT PIVOT WHEN SAID SEAT ROTATES FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE-RECLINED TOSAID FULLY-RECLINED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE MEMBER, (F) ALEGREST SUPPORT FRAME MEMBER NORMALLY DISPOSED WITH ONE END LOWER THANTHE OTHER, AND BEING POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF SAID SEAT MEMBER ANDFORMING AN ANGLE THEREWITH, (G) MEANS INCLUDING A LINK MEMBER RIGIDLYCONNECTED TO SAID FIRST FRONT SUPPORT LINK FOR FORMING WITH SAID FIRSTFRONT SUPPORTED LINK A LEGREST CONTROL LINK, (H) MEANS FOR OPERABLYCOUPLING SAID LEGREST MEMBER TO SAID LEGREST CONTROL LINK FOR INCREASINGTHE DISTANCE OF SAID LEGREST MEMBER FROM SAID SEAT AND SIMULTANEOUSLYINCREASING SAID ANGLE TOWARD 180* BY MEANS OF THE ROTARY MOVEMENT OFSAID LEGREST CONTROL LINK IN A FIRST DIRECTION ABOUT SAID SEAT.